Specific gravity marker plug for storage batteries



April 16, 19140. e. H. B. WEST SPECIFIC GRAVITY MAT KER PLUG-FOR STORAGE BATTERIES I Filed Dec. 8, 1937 m newrae a 13 W". 4/I'O/F/VEK Patented Apr. 16, t 1940 vireo s'rAr Es PATENT OFFICE SPECIFIG"GRAVITY MARKER PLUG FOR STORAGE BATTERIES v Georgeil; B. WestQPhiladelphia, Pa, assignor to The Electric Storage Battery Company, Philadelphia; Pa, a: corporation of New Jersey Application December 8, i937, Serial No. 178,641 2 Claims. (01. 116-133) The principal object of the present invention" is to provide convenient means for making a temporary record of the specific gravity of the elec- A trolyte in the cell of a storage battery, which rec- 0rd will remain associated with. the cell until another subsequent reading of'the specific gravity can be taken for comparison. Q

,. Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description at the end of which the invention will be claimed,

Generally stated the invention comprises a plug adapted for insertion into the filling opening of the cover of the cell and having a body member held against motion relative to the cover by frictional engagement or otherwise and an indicating member revolubly mounted above the body member, indicia being provided on one of said members cooperating with an index on the other.

means for manually turningand setting the indicating member to indicate the condition of the cell, as for example the specific gravity of the electrolyte, and a rubber ring interposed between the two members to apply friction to oppose accidental relative motion.

The invention also comprises the improvements to be presently described and finally claimed.

In the following description reference will be made to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof and in which,

Figure 1 is a top or plan view partly in section of a device embodying featuresof the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view partly in section of the same.

Fig. 3 is a top or plan View illustrating a modification, and

Fig. 4 ma central sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, more particularly Figs. 1 and 2, I indicates a plug-adapted for application to the vent opening in the cover of av storage battery container or cell, by reason oi its conical form the plugis adapted for frictional engagement with openings of different diameters In the outer face of the head of the plug there is a countersunk circular cavity or recess 2, and on the rim of the outer face of the plug there is demarked an index 3 which may be in the form of an inlay differing in color from the rest of the head. A dial disk 4 is revolubly mounted in the recess or cavity 2 and it is arranged for cooperation with the index 3. 5 indicates a spindle provided with a hand piece 6 and the shank of the spindle is provided with a de-.

formed or oblong portion 9 which fits a corre sponding opening in the disk 4 so that the two turn asa unit. The spindle 5 is rovolubly mounted in the plug or body I and the pin 7 arranged in an annular groove in the spindle and engaging the body serves to retain the two parts together 5 and to permit of rotation of the spindle and disk in respect to the body. ii is a rubber ring or tube interposed between the spindle 5 and the plug I,

and it serves to prevent accidental or undesirable turning movement of the disk ,4 in respect to the is noted by properly positioning the dial on the disk 4 with respect to the index. The plug is then inserted in the vent of the cell being serviced and thus the record is kept with the cell, and by reason of the described construction of the device the record is accurately kept because the spindle 5 is held by the element 8 against accidental movement. The hand piece 6 is of course a meansv for turning the disk 4 in order to make the described setting of the device.

The construction and mode of operation of the modification shown in Figs 3 and 4 are as above described except that the form of the plug l is somewhat modified and it is provided with an external thread by means of which, it can be 7 made a more or less permanent attachment of the cell. The plug I is' provided with the usual baffle l0 and the pivot piece II by which the disk 4 is pivoted in the recess is provided with an opening l2 thru it which constitutes the usual vent. The pivot element is provided with a split headed shank I 3 so that it can be sprung into place in an opening in the plug or body l The rubber ring or washer 6 arranged between the plug and the disk 4 and around the pivot element ll affords the necessary drag or friction for preventing accidental or undesired movement of the disk 4 This element 8 is arranged in a recess provided for its reception. The finger slot M in the disk 4 provides a'means by which the diskcan be turned in making a record of specific gravity.

By providing forfrictional engagement between the body member and the cell cover, the indicating member can be turned with one hand withsuch matters or otherwise than as the prior art c and the appended claims may require.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described -comprising an externally threaded plug having an axial opening thru it and havinginthe face of its head a circular recess, a dial disk" arranged in the recess and having means for accurately turning it,

a pivot element arranged thru the disk and thru the head of the plug and having spring feet and a friction disk encircling the pivot element and interposed between the plug and the disk,

2. A device of the character described and comprising, a plug having the lower part of its external surface shaped to interfit with the vent of the cover of a battery and having an axial opening through it and having in the face of its head a circular recess, a dial disk arranged in the recessand having means for accurately turning it, a pivot element arranged through the disk and through the head of the plug and having spring feet, and a friction disk encircling the pivot element and interposed between the plug 15 and the disk.

' GEORGE H.- B. WEST. 

